W Wrestling

Top-ranked Tornado ready for WCWA College Nationals

Jan 23, 2014

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Fresh off an NWCA National Duals title, the King University women's wrestling team will have an opportunity to win their second title in three weeks this weekend at the WCWA College Nationals. The Tornado have been the #1 ranked team all season in the WCWA Poll, and are in search of their first WCWA national championship this weekend in St. Louis.

King has been the host for each of the last two Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) College Nationals, and will have to travel to St. Louis, Mo., this year. A season ago, the Tornado finished third behind Simon Fraser University and Oklahoma City University.

Defending 136-pound WCWA National champion, Alli Ragan has led the Tornado all season. Two weeks ago, the senior took a win by fall, and two by technical fall to post an undefeated weekend at the NWCA National Duals. She has set many firsts for King women's wrestling, including the first women's wrestler to make a Senior World Team, earning the distinction in 2013. In her senior campaign, Ragan has a record of 12-0, and is currently ranked #1 in her weight class.

Juniors Sarah Hildebrandt (123 pounds) and Julia Salata (155 pounds) will both be looking for their first WCWA National title after taking home runner-up finishes a season ago. The duo each won their three matches at NWCA National Duals two weeks ago, helping to lead King to the title. Hildebrandt is ranked second at 123 pounds, and has gone 12-0 this year while Salata is ranked first and has a record of 14-0. Kayla Bartosch will also compete at 123 pounds for the Tornado. She is ranked ninth and has posted a record of 5-4 during her senior season.

At 101 pounds, senior Shannon Constantine and sophomore Ashley Iliff are ranked sixth and seventh, respectively in the latest WCWA poll. Both have turned in solid seasons with Constantine going 13-4 and Iliff posting an 8-5 mark. Freshman Daisy Santos is ranked fifth at 109 pounds this season, and has posted a record of 12-4 this season.

Fellow freshman Haley Augello brings a wealth of international experience and has gone 9-0 for the Tornado this season. The #1 ranked wrestler at 116 pounds won all three of her NWCA National Duals bouts on tech falls last weekend. Another freshman, Megan Black is ranked seventh at 130 pounds, and posted two wins at 130 pounds at NWCA National Duals. She has a 7-3 record this season. Also competing at 130 pounds will be Kayla Brendlinger who is 11-4 in her junior season, and is ranked fourth at 123 pounds. Along with Black and Brendlinger at 130 pounds will be freshmen Katie Germain and Nicole Dalious.

Stacy Martin and Hanna Martin with also compete with Ragan at 136 pounds. Stacy Martin is ranked ninth at 143 pounds in the latest WCWA rankings and has gone 6-3 in her senior season. Hanna Martin, a junior has gone 7-2 this season.

Junior Amanda Hendey, who is ranked second at 143 pounds, posted a pair of wins for the Tornado at that weight at the NWCA National Duals, and has an overall record of 143. Both Kerri Bumpers and Lorrie Ramos have had good junior season's going 6-2, and 8-2 respectively. Ramos is ranked second, and Bumpers is ranked sixth in the latest WCWA poll, and the duo will compete for the WCWA title at 170 pounds.

Finally, Malexis McAdoo is ranked second at 191 pounds, and has posted an overall record of 12-2 this season. The junior won her first two bouts at the NWCA National Duals before falling to defending WCWA national champion on criteria in the finals against Simon Fraser University at 191 pounds.

The Tornado were the preseason #1 ranked team in the WCWA Poll, and have been ranked atop the poll all season. Defending national champion Simon Fraser has been ranked second, followed by Oklahoma City University who is ranked third after finishing second a season ago.

The WCWA College Nationals will take place on Friday and Saturday at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, Mo. Missouri Baptist will provide live video here.

WCWA WOMEN'S COLLEGE NATIONALS At St. Louis, Mo., January 24-25 Location: Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex at Missouri Baptist University